What is Trocha?

[Brigitte]

Alot of people don't really know what Trocha is, so I'm going to try to explain it here.
Trocha is what some Paso Finos do when they are relaxed, or the gait that the Paso Fino horse starts with when being ridden for the first few weeks or months. The official name is Trocha Pura Colombiana, or the Colombian Trocha Pura. It has, like fino, 4 beats, but unevenly spaced. And due to the front and back leg hitting the ground almost at the same time, sounds like it's only two beats. Keep in mind that trocha is a diagonal gait, NOT lateral.
There is Trocha Y Galope, and Trocha Pura Colombiana, only difference being Trocha Y Galope horses, galope too.
According to CONFEPASO rules a Trocha Y Galope Stallion should be 1.40 meter by 60 months, for mares it's 1.38. For Trocha Pura Colombiana a stallion should be 1.38 meters at 60 months and a mare 1.36 meters.

The above information is to be found in the Equitation Rule Book for Young Men and Women Riders.

There isn't much information to be found about Trocha on the internet. You would have to dig deep for that

Here is a link which I found pretty informative, but not really explaining what trocha is.
http://www.rocabo.com/horses/articles/trocha.htm

An article in the Fedequinas Magazine July/August 2004

Pure Colombian Trocha
By definition of Confepaso Rules "Trocha is a non associated four beat, non isochronic gait, which executes with rhythm and cadence the four beats, identified by the sound of the four beats when executing the cycle sequence; the sound is tras, tras, tras".
Jaime Mejia, eminent Colombian judge now retired in the USA, defines it is a four beat movement by diagonals, which is different from the paso fin executed in four beat laterals.
Due to its mechanics, trocha was ideal for the steep mountains and long journeys, for the smoothness for the rider and because the long trocha executed in that time resulted also relaxing for the horse which traveled for several months in long journeys. The breeders of the time selected those horses with similar gait characteristics, fixing a defined gait, completely different from trot and Paso Fino.
Trocha has a cadence between 680 and 700 beats per minute, but there are even faster trochas, whereby the horse continues elasticity in his back feet and moves with naturalness.
Today trocha has evolved producing a horse with well defined characteristics, with greater rhythm and cadence, but maintaining from their ancestors the brio, smoothness and resistance characteristics of this gait.

By: Angela Ochoa de Mejia, National and International Horse Judge and Carlos Uribe Trujilo, National and International Horse Judge

On the Video page is a short clip of a Trocha horse, and you can clearly hear the "tras tras tras" of Trocha

I will be trying to get more Videos of Trocha horse, where you can really see how they walk.

And keep in mind, it's TrochA, a common mistake alot of people make is saying Troche. ;-)

* Edited to add article of Fedequinas

[Jasfino]

Thanks for that info Brigette. Its good to know that its a natural gait for pasos early on in their training and just one more gait the paso fino can perform.

[motorgypsy]

Thanks! Great info!

[SandyMM]

Trocha is what some Paso Finos do when they are relaxed, or the gait that the Paso Fino horse starts with when being ridden for the first few weeks or months.
Interesting information - but I would dispute that it is the gait of choice that the Paso Fino horse starts with (implying that all Paso Fino horses start out in trocha). Perhaps this is coming from the Colombian perspective. True-gaited Pasos Finos will step right out in the Paso Fino gait... If they have trocha breeding, then they could well be trocha-inclined. There is a huge difference between getting balanced with the addition of a rider and settling into the Paso Fino gait and being trocha-based.

Most of the conflict in what a Paso Fino horse should/can do most likely comes from the viewer's perspective - Colombian Paso or Puerto Rican Paso. If you are Colombian-influenced, trocha tendencies in a Paso Fino gaited horse are no big deal... If you are PPR-influenced - especially old-time PPR - trocha tendencies are a big deal...

Of course, if the feet move fast enough - it is harder for the 'unaware' to tell what gait the horse is actually doing - a technique not unknown in the show ring... Unfortunately, even very high profile trainers have knowingly and successfully shown trocha in Paso Fino classes - all the way to National level. Not unfortunate because the horse was inherently bad, but because the rider _knew_ the horse was not Paso Fino and knew the judges wouldn't know the difference.

When the two gaits are brought out into the open and owners are educated as to the distinct difference - perhaps then we could see some responsible changes and each type gait could get full credit.

[motorgypsy]

But do remember that in our breed lateral is just as much a fault as diagonal. And many PPR horses tend to go lateral. It does a great diservice to the breed to hide the natural tendencies of the horse - in particular breeding stallions. If I want a greater range of gait or I want lower or higher hands or a bit more diagonal or a bit more lateral from a foal I want to know that the stallion has a natural centered gait, good range, natural high or low hand and so on. Not that these traits have been brought about by artificial means. This is why we always advise people to go see a stallion in person and watch the stallion when it's relaxed and just fooling around as well as when it is in "show mode". So you can see exactly what he's really like.

[pasofantasy]

Remember, that we're talking Fedequinas, not PFHA or earlier paso fino associations in the states or in Puerto Rico. I'm seen many foals gaiting paso fino next the their mothers shortly after birth! My pure Colombian Coral son did not trocha! He gaited paso fino in the pasture and in early training! He did not go into trocha after an hour or two on the trail! I've heard that some trainers wanting to teach trocha to the horses, that naturally do paso fino, so there must be more out there.

I think, I started attending shows in Florida around 1980. Trainers didn't talk about them doing trocha at first as they now do! At one point, PFHA wouldn't accept some of the Colombian registries. I can remember how upset many were at shows, posting petitions in the barns to allow other Colombianos. I don't think, it was much longer before we started seeing more trocha. It's only been in the last few years, that I heard of it as it's resting gait.

I often wonder if the PPR association started to keep the paso fino gait pure, not just horses from that country. I bred my Colombian to PPR mares, as I knew, that I'd get paso fino gait. Although I haven't bred many, all have done paso fino gait as foals. We work on training turns and stops, not getting it to gait according to PFHA rules.

[SandyMM]

Trocha is one Colombian manifestation of the Paso gait. APF, IPFHA, PFOBA, and PFHA have never officially promoted, allowed, or described trocha - as a distinct gait - in the show ring or anywhere else - for the American Paso Fino horse.

However, there is a monetary motivation in buying horses on one area and selling them in another - particularly troublesome if the horses are not as represented - whether by admission or omission. Unfortunately for the breed, if certain crosses produce unallowable gaits in this country, it will be financially advantageous for some unscrupulous sellers to make the 'unallowable' gait the 'gait de jour'.
It's only been in the last few years, that I heard of it as it's resting gait.
I have heard at least one National judge tell clinic attendees it is a 'resting gait' and 'ok' in the ring as long as the judges don't see it and then, of course, they should be excused.... Pfft! In my opinion, that does _not_ excuse it. That would be nearly like teaching TWH to do the Missouri Fox Trot to 'rest' in the middle of a class...
I bred my Colombian to PPR mares, as I knew, that I'd get paso fino gait.
I would like to point out that is due both to the fact that her Colombian Paso did not carry or pass on the trocha gene as well as the strong prepotency of the PPR gait. Each country has developed - over the centuries - a Paso horse to fit the needs of that country. The most obviously separate branch is the Peruvian Paso which has been isolated from its cousins for so long that it is a true separate breed in the sense that it reproduces like offspring. Many (not all) Colombian-breds can not _guarantee_ the modality aka gait that will result - even when breeding like to like. This is what has wreaked havoc in a registry (PFHA) which promotes only the paso fino gait. Responsible PFHA breeders should study carefully - not the show winnings of any given Paso (which can be influenced by many non-gait related issues), but each horse's gait and its ability to faithfully reproduce that gait. Because the PPR breeders focus on only one gait - I believe it makes them more reliable for gait production. And admit it or not, you will find breeders crossing back to the PPR Pasos to regain gait when their stock has gone too diagonal.

Some people favor the _direct_ 50-50 Colombian (PF gaited) x PPR cross. It produces the locked-in PF gait with increased agility and athleticism - the best of both in those breeders' opinions.
We work on training turns and stops, not getting it to gait according to PFHA rules.
That's my goal... and there are many others who fervently believe that a good Paso Fino gait is bred iin - not trained. It's what APF, PFOBA, and PFHA profess to promote... it's time they step up to the plate and make the even 4 beat Paso Fino gait a priority before the breed and gait promoted to the public in this country is completely lost.

There is most certainly a well-deserved place for trocha and the fans of trocha (of which there are rightly many) - it just shouldn't be in PFHA.

[motorgypsy]

All the paso fino foals I've seen at birth have gaited correctly but I have heard people say that as the foal grows at times unevenly that they will go out of gait for a while and then back in again when they reach full growth. This is not with training. This just happens.